Francisco Moya received 68 percent of the vote to Hiram Monserrate's 32 percent in the race for Assembly seat for Queens. Monserrate failed to get elected after sequestering the State Senate and being expelled from the Senate by his colleagues.

"Integrity and dignity have come back to this district. I appreciate this vote of confidence by the community and I will take it to Albany to fight for change," said Moya, the first elected politician of Ecuadorian descent in New York City.

Moya celebrated his victory at a restaurant in Corona accompanied by representatives of the unions that supported him: 32BJ, CWA, UFT and Hotel Workers, among others. Moya also was supported by the Democratic machinery in Queens, headed by Queens Congressman Joseph Crowleyand other politicians including Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras and Daniel Dromm. State Senator José Peralta, who also defeated Monserrate this year, is a Moya supporter.

Historically, Democrats who win in the primaries in New York City also win in the general elections in November. This means that Moya has an assured win and will take possession in the Assembly come January of next year.

"We wanted a win but it didn't happen," said Monserrate from the headquarters of the Colombian Cultural Center on Northern Boulevard. "I wish Moya and his family the best, and I hope he will represent this community in the best way possible." The incident of his cutting his girlfriend's face, Karla Giraldo, and his vote against same sex marriage also played a determining role in Monserrate's defeat.

Monserrate also said he loved this neighborhood and promised to continue to fight for the community, although he made no mention if he would again run for office. Also accompanying Monserrate during his defeat was Ramón Ramírez Báez, who through his newspaper, Tren 7, he railed against Democratic politicians in his final attempt to support the candidate. The well known businessman Eduardo Giraldo, who supported Monserrate, preferred, at the last moment, to head home to sleep rather than face another night of defeat.

Anthony Miranda, a former cop like Monserrate, also was unable to unseat Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry, who got 60 percent of the vote to Miranda's 40 percent. "We should have won because the people wanted a change," said Miranda to QueensLatino.com from his home in Queens.

Another defeat last night was for State Senator Pedro Espada from the Bronx, who lost by a margin of 33 to 62 percent, favoring his opponent Gustavo Rivera. "There is a new direction," said Rivera, who was supported by the Working Families Party. Espada reacted: "It was a great challenge and people from outside this neighborhood, union activists, came to the Bronx to defeat me, although I am not giving up and will continue to fight."

Both Monserrate and Espada were part of the "gang" that moved to the Republican Party to take control of the New York Senate last year; they are now paying a steep price personally and politically. However, the other member of the "gang," Senator Rubén Díaz from the Bronx, still sits on his throne following his victory at the polls this week.

Another defeat in the Democratic primaries was of Adam Clayton Powell, a Latino, who was unable to unseat Congressman Charles Rangel in Harlem; Rangel was under investigation for misuse of funds and failing to pay taxes and is facing charges before the House Ethics Committee.

Among the Latino winners are the Democratic politicians Adriano Espaillat, who secured his candidacy for State Senate in the general elections on November 2, and Guillermo Linares who is now again an official candidate State Assembly.

Carl Paladino defeated Rick Lazio to become the Republican candidate for governor. Paladino, a multimillionaire, will face the Democrat Andrew Cuomo and has already challenged Cuomo to a public debate. The NY State Attorney seat, vacated by Cuomo, is being sought by Democratic State Senator Eric Schneiderman and Republican Dan Donovan [the DA for Staten Island].

The fight for the State Senate seat between the Democratic candidate José Peralta and the Republican Richard LaSalle start today. The Republican candidate states that he will make history and that he has the prestige and the money to defeat Peralta. Both Latinos will have much to say to Queens County and the community expects a debate of ideas and alternatives.

The new voting machines have been the subject of much criticism since more than 70 arrived late to the voting sites and some failed to function well, including the machine used by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. Mayor Michael Bloomberg declared that these problems were "unacceptable," and that they should all have worked perfectly given the cost of the machines at close to $100 million.